Five Dead, 60 Hospitalized in Lagos Gastroenteritis Outbreak

 A severe gastroenteritis outbreak has claimed the lives of five people and left 60 others hospitalized in communities around Eti Osa, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, and Kosofe local government areas of Lagos State.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, shared this information while responding to state surveillance reports. He stated that the state government has called for increased vigilance and precautionary measures to prevent the potential spread of cholera.

Prof. Abayomi revealed that the five deaths were primarily due to patients seeking treatment late and suffering from extreme dehydration.

“We have initiated a statewide heightened surveillance and response. The Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Environmental Health and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) have been notified to investigate a potential water contamination source in the Lekki-Victoria Island area. We suspect a possible cholera outbreak; however, samples have been taken for confirmation. As of April 28, 2024, Nigeria reported 815 suspected cholera cases and 14 deaths across 25 states,” he said.

The Commissioner noted that recent rains have led to a significant increase in cases of severe vomiting and watery stools in Lagos State, particularly in urban slums and crowded areas with poor sanitation.